So.. Many.. Rings!

I feel like everyone in the world is giving & receiving rings!
Here are just a few people that have gotten engaged in the past week or two..

Ben & Me
Natalie & Sam
Brandon & Britt
Lyndee & Russ
Jacki & Kade
Lacey & Tony
Mindy & Rudy
Amanda & Matt
Lachelle & Kevin
Joe & Delcie

aaanndd..
Ashley and Hayden got married a couple weeks ago,
And SaDee and BJ are going to have a baby!

Things are about to get super crazy.. haha.

Engagements & Things

(I wrote this Friday, December 24.. the night after Ben proposed)
Well, it's official boys and girls.. I'm getting MARRIED!! To the most wonderful man I've ever known (besides my dad). Last night was incredible. Ben and I went and did baptisms for the dead at the temple, and afterward we walked around the grounds for a little bit before sitting on the front steps. We started talking about the day last year when we sat in the exact same spot. Ben was waiting for his family to get to the temple so they could go do sealings for the dead, and I was just hanging out on the grounds because Danielle was at a doctor appointment at the hospital across the street. Ben texted me and amidst the small talk he told me where he was, and then I told him I was there too! So I went and found him, and we sat on those steps and talked until Danielle was done with her appointment. After we talked about that day, Ben started listing all the reasons why he loves me. He said some of the sweetest things I'd ever had anyone say to me. I told him that he was making me cry, and then he said, "Well, I'm going to make you cry some more." And then he got down on his knees in front of me and pulled a little box out of his pocket. I started going into hysterics. He opened the box and asked the question, to which I of course said "yes!" And yes, I did cry. A lot. I can't think of any better time or place to get THE ring. Both of us still overflowing with the spirit from doing baptisms, and on the steps of one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. Ben is going to be mine, for time and all eternity. And I'm so happy! When we pulled up to my apartment, Danielle called me. They were at Chili's and had locked the keys in the Yukon. I just happened to have a spare to the car, so it was Jessica to the rescue! I didn't want to leave Ben, but he needed to go home and get to bed because he's sick. So I grabbed the spare from my room, and headed over to Chili's. I got there, and my parents and Kyler and Semaya were across the parking lot at a clothes store. I met them halfway across the parking lot and we were just chatting, when someone asked me what I was going to do the rest of the night. I said I was probably going to go home and laugh and cry and scream and jump around. Haha. When I was asked why, I held up my left hand. When Danielle realized what I was showing them, she punched my arm a couple times and kept saying "oh my gosh!" and then she calmed down a little and grabbed my hand and told me that the ring was so pretty. I got lots of hugs and congratulations. [: If it's that way with my parents, I can only imagine how much attention I'll be getting the next few weeks. Haha. It seems like everyone in the whole world is getting engaged. Natalie got engaged yesterday too! And so did my friend Jacki Kimball. The funny thing, is that a couple of weeks ago Natalie and I were talking about how cool it would be if we both got engaged on the same day... and it totally happened! She texted me mid-morning yesterday telling me she got her ring! There are going to be SO MANY weddings this spring. Ben's brother Brandon is getting married in June, Natalie is getting married late May or early June, and I'm getting married May 21. It's so insane! But so super cool! My mom doesn't know yet.. I'm going up there tonight to surprise her for Christmas and to tell her and the kids about my ring.. :D And Ben and I aren't going to say anything to his family.. we're gonna see how long it takes them to figure it out :P And then, once everyone in our close family knows, we'll go public and put it on Facebook and all that jazz. This is crazy. I'm getting MARRIED!! I've always dreamed about it, but I can't believe it's happening! It's a whole different ball game now.. [:

It's December,

and I just found a ladybug. Outside. Alive. [:

Yep, That About Sums It Up.

"Patience is the ability to count down before you blast off."

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like..

Christmas!!

And I'm so excited!

I helped decorate Dad's house on Thanksgiving..
My apartment was the next victim,
And tonight it was Ben's turn to have his house overtaken by Christmas decor. [:

It was so much fun! The night started of with Ben and I making dinner. The other night, we made cheese and saved the whey. Then tonight we cooked pasta in the whey from our cheesemaking adventure, and put some of the cheese we made into the spaghetti sauce! It was super yummy! [: After dinner, it was time to decorate! Ben's brother's girlfriend Brittnae and I put up the bears and snowmen and santas on top of the piano, and the lights and the strings of beads on the tree while the boys put up tinsel in the kitchen and made milkshakes for everyone! Ben, Brittnae, and I had to be sneaky for a minute and turn the tree when nobody was looking.. so that the fullest part of the tree would be in the front. (We didn't want Brandon to see us turning it.. because he was the one who put up the tree in the first place.. haha) There was tons of conversation thrown around (mostly by Brittnae) about "next year, when Jessica and I a real part of the family" and "racing.." haha. I'm pretty sure the sudden talk about all of that came about because Lyndee (Ben's sister) is remarrying her ex-husband (he proposed to her Monday night). But who knows. :P Then we all helped put the ornaments on the tree. I love just hanging out at Ben's house. I love his family, especially his niece and nephews! [: They're so much fun to be around! Ahh... And I just love Christmastime. I love it that everyone is in the cheerful, loving, caring mood that December brings. I wish that feeling would last all year long. [:

Thank You

Well, I've been slacking on my gratitude journal lately. But.. seeing as how today is Thanksgiving.. I think it's the perfect time to catch up!

Today, I am grateful for so many things.

That my Savior loves me. He knows me personally, and has experienced all the same exact trials that I have gone through, am going through, and will go through. He was willing to sacrifice His life for me. The one thing He wants, more than anything is for us to all be together again, as brothers, sisters, and parents.

For patriarchal blessings.

That I am able to express an attitude of gratitude.

For the Holy Ghost, and the fact that I can have his comfort always, if I obey and keep the commandments.

For my dad. My dad is an incredible person. He has always been there for me.. even when I didn't want him to be. I love him so very much. And I consider myself the luckiest girl in the world because I was blessed to have him as my father, my dad, and one of my very best friends. I cannot express how much I love him in words. He means the world to me. I'm so grateful that we have the close relationship that we do, and that I can go to him whenever I need or want to. I don't think I would be the same person I am today if I didn't have him as my dad. I'm so grateful for all that he has done for me, for how much he cares about me, and how badly he wants to see me succeed.

For Danielle. To me, Danielle is not my "step-mom". Whenever I think about that title, I always imagine Cinderella's evil step-mother.. and that is definitely not who Danielle is. She is a mother to me, a best friend, a shoulder to cry on, a shopping buddy, and so many other things. I'm so very grateful that she is in my life. And I'm so glad that we have the close relationship that we do. I love it when people ask if I like my step-mom. Because my answer is always along the lines of "Yes. I love her so much.. she is one of my very best friends!" I love seeing the surprised looks on the face of the person who asked the question. I consider myself so lucky to have the kind of relationship with her that I do. I'm so grateful for all that she has done for me.. she is such a blessing in my life. And I'm so grateful that she was able to bring Kyler and Semaya into this world. I love both of them so much, and now that they're here, I can't imagine a world without them.

For my mom. My mom is my hero. She has gone through so much.. but she still stands strong. She is an amazing example of compassion and kindness to me. She rarely if ever speaks an unkind word about anyone. She is always thinking of others. She will always put her family and her children before herself. I want to be exactly like her when I grow up. Dorky-ness and all. [: I miss her so much. But I'm so grateful that I have the opportunity to see her this weekend for a few hours. :D My mom is my superhero, and I couldn't have asked to have been sent to anyone else.

For Ben. I know I've listed Ben a few times in my gratitude journal, but I really really am super thankful that he is in my life. He really brings out the best in me. He is kind, and gentle. He is funny and playful. He is talented and smart. His testimony is so strong. He loves me. For me. He didn't want me to cut my hair short, but when I did, he said he still loved me the same. That really means a lot to me.. and no, I didn't cut my hair just as a test.. haha. But I'm so grateful that he loves me inside and out. It's such a comfort to know that someone cares so genuinely for me. He only wants what's best for me, and takes care of me the best ways he knows how. And I can't thank him enough. I am so blessed.

For what little patience I have. [:

For my siblings.

For my bed.

For my friends.

For electricity.

For my hair.

For my shoes.

For my job.

For my ward.

For music.

For creativity.

For my professors.

For the gospel.

For the scriptures.

For clothes.

For sunshine.

For rain.

For snow.

For summer, winter, spring, & fall

For flowers.

For grass.

For trees.

For mountains.

For cupcakes.

For mirrors.

For my testimony.

For indoor plumbing.

For bees.

For warm blankets & hot cocoa.

For the Atonement.

For President Monson.

For the priesthood.

For holy places.

For the commandments.

For the Word of Wisdom.

For the plan of happiness.

For colors.

For sounds.

For miracles.

For family.

For mercy.

For repentance.

For personal revelation.

For sleep.

And so much more..

Go to the Corner

Last night, something happened to me that has not happened since I was little.
I got put on time-out.
By my boyfriend's sister. [:
Because I stuck my tongue out at Ben.
But don't worry, he was on time-out too.
Because he bit me. hahaha

It was actually really funny. Because Ben's niece Ella and her dad Russ were already on time-out for sticking out their tongues. So there we were.. all four of us, sitting on bar stools in the middle of the kitchen. And Lindy (Ben's sister) ran out of timers.. so we had to use a watch and Ben's phone.

Ella got done with her punishment first. (Russ would have been done at the same time, but wouldn't behave.. so Lindy had to keep adding time for him) Then I was done second. And instead of Lindy talking to me about what I had done wrong.. she had Ella do it. Cutest thing in the whole world! She asked me why I was on time-out, then if sticking out my tongue was respectful to Ben. Then she asked what I was going to do as soon as Ben got off of time out. My responses?

"I stuck out my tongue."
"No."
"Tell him I'm sorry."

And then when Ben's time was up, Ella asked him the same questions. But.. he totally denied biting me, and almost had to sit there for a little while longer. :P

All in all, it was a funny little experience.. that I don't think I'll ever forget. [: